Check-punch



(No Model.)

eamoems. CHECK PUNCH.

N0.,562,852. Patented June 30, 1896.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. ROGERS, OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

CHECK-PUNCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 562,852, dated June 30, 1896.

Application filed September 5, 1895. Serial No. 561,533. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. ROGERS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Birmingham, Jefferson county, State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Check-Punches; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, attention being called to the accompanying drawings, with the reference-numerals marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a device to be used on checks and similar papers representing values in money where such papers are protected against raising the amounts thereon by numbers printed on them and arranged in rows each from 1 to 9 or 0, usually, the amount of the check being indicated by them by punching therefrom the numerals composing said amount, one numeral being punched in each row, after which the rowsin which no numerals have been punched are clipped off. A check of this description is shown in a pending application also filed by me and serially numbered 561,532.

The object of my invention is therefore to construct in a practical and simplified manner a punch for use on such checks whereby any number in any row or rows may be independently and directly punched without any previous adjustment of parts and whereby the unused rows may be clipped off, all without moving or readjusting the check after placed once in position.

In the following specification and particularlypointed out in the claims is found a full description of my invention, together with its operation, parts, and construction,which latter is also illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an end View of the apparatus, showing the mannerin which it is used. Fig. 2 is a top View thereof. Fig. 3 is a front view showing parts broken away, and Fig. 4: is a vertical cross-section taken close to one side of the knife. Fig. 5 shows that part of the check which is to be acted on by the punch and which part is not visible in Fig. 1.

The check on which this punch is to be used is provided at one end Wi th upright rows, each containing numerals in sequence from 1 to 9 or 0, the first row, counting from the right, being used to indicate units of dollars, the second tens of dollars, the third hundreds of dollars, and so on. There may be as many rows as are required an d they might also be arranged horizon tally instead of Vertically. Five rows are presumed in this case, and the punch therefore contains also five rows of individual punches, designated by 11, and each provided with a numbered key on top for operation. They are all arranged, located, and numbered to correspond exactlywith the numbered part of the check, so that if the latter were fully and properly placed any punch-key in any row when operated will punch the corresponding number indicated by it on the check.

The punches are guided and supported on a frame or head 12, and each is provided with a shoulder 13, against which a spring 14 acts to hold the punches normally elevated. Frame 12 is secured to another box-shaped frame 15, on the top of which the check rests while being punched, which top for such purpose is provided with holes corresponding in position and number with the punches and forming the female dies thereof. To hold the check in position while the numbers are being punched out of the different rows,a springclamp 16 is preferably provided, below which the check is placed and which holds it down, as shown in Fig. 1, while the punching is done. This clamp is of course also perforated to permit the punches to pass, the holes be ing of liberal size to prevent any interference. This clamp may be secured in position in any suitable way. The one I have selected is by bending its rear end down and catching it be tween frames 15 and 12 before the latter is secured in position. It is normally down and for insertion of the check has to be elevated, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

In most cases, perhaps, the amounts of the checks are not so large as to require a number to be punched in each row, in which case it is necessary to detach that part of the check containing the unused rows of figures to prevent raising the face-value of the check by punching additional numbers in the rows used for indicating higher values. For such purpose a knife 18 is provided, its frame at 19 near the end where it is secured being elastic and forming a spring which holds the knife-blade normally elevated to permit the check to be passed under. In cutting, the knife-blade passes into a slot 22 in the top of the box 15, cutting against one edge of the top in said slot. It being desirable to retain control of the clippings, that part of the top of box 15 beyond slot 22 is raised to permit the part to be cut off to pass under this raised part of the top, so that after removal or cutting the clipping drops down inside of the box, which contains a drawer 23, preferably locked, within which all these clippings as well as those resulting from punching the numbers collect and from which they may be disposed of in any suitable manner, preferably by burning.

To obviate a shifting of the check for clipping, after the same is once placed for punching, the check is at one placed sufficiently to the left to bring the 'last one of the rows out of which a figure is to be punched under the row of punches next to the knife, after which, the check being now held by the clamp, punching and clipping may be done successively without readjustment of the paper.

To facilitate the placing of the check in this manner, the upper front edge of the box 15, which is preferably beveled, is provided with a numbered graduation, the marks of which correspond as to position with the position of the rows of punches. Thus, for instance, if the check is for three hundred and twentyfive dollars, requiring the punching of the 5 in the first row of the check, the punching of the 2 in the second, and of the 3 in the third row, the check would be so placed as to bring its first row opposite the third mark on the graduated scale, which permits the use of three punches, as required, each in a different row, and at the same time brings the check out so far to permit the clipping off of the unpunched rows of the check without requiring the same to be readjusted.

24 may represent handles at each end of the apparatus, whereby it may be conveniently taken hold of whenever necessary for any purpose. 1

Having described my invention, I claim as new 1. In a punch for the purpose described, the combination of a head 12, rows of spring-resisted punches supported thereon, each provided with a numbered key on top for direct and independent operation, a base-frame 15 below head 12, having its top perforated to receive the ends of the depressed punches, a spring-clamp between the two, with a normal tendency to lie against the top of base 15 and having holes registering with the holes in the latter and a knife-blade carried by a frame having a spring action whereby it is held normally elevated and secured to the baseframe at one side of head 12.

2. In a punch for the purpose described, the combination of a head 12, rows of spring-resisted punches supported thereon, each provided with a numbered key on top for direct than the part immediately below the head.

which latter part is perforated to receive the ends of the depressed punches, a slot passing in horizontally between the lower and higher parts of the top of box-frame 15, to permit one part of the paper to enter, said slot being vertically below and in line with one end of head 12, and a pivotally-supported knife so located as to out even with the line above mentioned and whereby that part of the check which is below the higher part of the top of the box-frame may be severed.

3. In a punch for the purpose described, the combination of a head 12, rows of spring-resisted punches supported thereon, each provided with a numbered key for direct and independent operation, a box shaped baseframe 15,to which head 12 is secured and which is longer than the latter a knife pivotally supported above the top of box-frame 15 and seoured thereto so as to be to one side of head 12, a slot extending across the top of frame 15 to permit the depressed knife-blade to enter, the front edge of that part of said top. which receives the check, being beveled and provided with a graduated scale thereat, the marks of which indicate the position of the rows of punches above and which are further so located with reference to the slotwhich the knife enters, as to enable the proper placing of the check for cutting and punching without intermediate adjustment.

4. In a punch for the purpose described, the combination of a head 12, rows of spring-resisted punches supported thereon each provided with a numbered key for direct and independent operation, a box shaped baseframe 15,to which head 12 is secured and which is longer than the latter the top of the projecting part on one side being higher than the part immediately below the head, which latter part is perforated to receive the ends of the depressed punches, a slot passing in horizontally between the higher and lower parts of said top, to permit one end of the paper to enter, said slot being vertically below and z in line with one side of head 12, a pivotallysupported knife so located as to cut even with the line above mentioned the adjacent edges forming the slot thereat being also separated horizontally to permitthe knife to enter from 

